This are the order of battles for all Singapore-convoys between December 1941 and February 1942. Initially, I thought this would be a simple job searching together pieces of info to make a list of all ships, together with the dates of departure and arrival. Not surprisingly, this proved to be troublesome, as many flaws in sources had to be sorted out, checked, crossreferenced and added to the list. This is the list I ultimately made, which does not necessarily mean it is entirely corrected. I welcome any correction, comment or addition.

BM 9A

This convoy transported the first large troop reinforcement to the island. It left Bombay on December 21 1941 and arrived in Singapore on the 3rd of January without much delay or difficulty. Aboard was the 45th Indian infantry brigade. It departed Bombay on December 21 1941, and arrived in Singapore on January 3 1942. The order of battle for the convoy was as follows:

Merchants

Devonshire

British, 11.275 tons

1599 troops

Lancashire

British, 9.542 tons

1337 troops

Ethiopia

British, 5.574 tons

897 troops

Varsova

British, 4.691 tons

978 troops

Rajula

British, 8.478 tons

1166 troops

Escort

CL

HMS Glasgow

Between December 21 and 25

CL

HMAS Hobart

from December 25 to Singapore

CL

HMS Dragon

from December 30 to Singapore

CL

HMS Durban

from December 30 to Singapore

CL

De Ruyter

RNN, between January 1 and 2 through Sunda Strait

CL

Tromp

RNN, between January 1 and 2 through Sunda Strait

DD

HMAS Vampire

from December 30 to Singapore

DD

HMS Jupiter

from January 2 1942 to Singapore

DD

HMS Encounter

from January 2 1942 to Singapore

DD

Banckert

RNN, between 1 and 2 January through Sunda Strait

DD

Piet Hein

RNN, between 1 and 2 January through Sunda Strait

PB

HMIS Sonavati

between 21 and 27 December

PB

Falmouth

between 25 and 27 December

BM 9B

This was the follow-up convoy for BM-9A, and the ships of this formation carried the vehicles and stores for the 45th Indian infantry brigade. It departed Bombay on December 22 1941 and arrived in Singapore on January 6 1942.

( RNN, joined 31/12/41 but has to break off because of damage to one of the propellors )

DD

HMS Electra

from January 3 to Singapore

DD

HMS Express

from January 3 to Singapore

DD

HMS Stronghold

from January 4 to Singapore

DD

Banckert

( RNN, joined January 4, detached before arrival )

DD

Piet Hein

( RNN, joined January 4, detached before arrival )

AM

HMAS Burnie

from January 5 to Singapore

AM

HMAS Goulburn

from January 5 to Singapore

DM1 ( Ex- WS 12 ZM)

This convoy had quite an impressive cargo, as it not only transported the 53rd Infantry Brigade Group, 232 squadron RAF, 6th Heavy and 35th Light AA regiments and the 85th Anti-tank regiment, but also had fifty crated Hawker Hurricane fighters on board of 17, 135, 136 and 232 squadron RAF. The convoy departed Durban on December 24 as part of WS 12Z, and the Singapore-bound ships detached at sea. The American trooper Mount Vernon departed Mombasa with HMS Emerald on December 29, and joined at sea. The ships, now known as DM-1, departed the Addu Atoll on January 5 and arrived in Singapore on the 13th.

Merchants

Narkunda

British, 16.632 tons

1773 troops

Aorangi

British, 17.491 tons

2194 troops

Sussex

British, 11.063 tons

52 Hurricane fighters, 3.7-inch AA-guns and 14 troops

Abbekerk

Dutch, 7.906 tons

Ammunition and 16 troops

Mount Vernon

American, 22.559 tons

221 officers and 4882 men of the 18th division

Escorts

CA

HMS Cornwall

Until Colombo area

CA

HMS Exeter

From January 5 to Singapore

CL

HMS Durban

From January 9, but arrived ahead of convoy

CL

HMS Emerald ( F )

From January 29 to Singapore

CL

De Ruyter

( RNN, between January 10 and 12 )

CL

Tromp

( RNN, between January 10 and 12 )

PB

HMIS Jumna

from January 5 to Singapore

DD

HMS Jupiter

from January 10, but arrived ahead of convoy

DD

HMS Encounter

from January 10 to Singapore

DD

HMAS Vampire

from January 10 to Singapore

DD

Banckert

( RNN, between January 10 and 12 )

DD

Piet Hein

( RNN, between January 10 and 12 )

BM 10

BM-10 arrived in Singapore on January 25 1942 with the 44th Indian Infantry brigadegroup ( 6000 men ), vehicles and stores for the 18th division and carriers for the reconregiment. It had departed
Bombay on January 8 1942.

Merchants

Cap St. Jacques

French, 8009 tons

716 troops and stores

Talthybius

British, 10.254 tons

stores

Islami

British, 5.879 tons

964 troops and stores

Rohna

British, 8.602 tons

1188 troops and stores

Ekma

British, 5.108 tons

897 troops

Takliwa

British, 7.936 tons

980 troops and stores

Jalakrishna

British, 4.991 tons

motor transport and stores

Subadar

British, 5.425 tons

motor transport and stores

Jalavihar

British, 5.330 tons

motor transport and stores

Brittany

British, 4.772 tons

general cargo

Loch Ranza

British, 4.958 tons

motor transport and stores

Jalaratna

British, 3.942 tons

stores, departed Colombo 12/1/42 and joined at sea

Silverlarch

British, 5.064 tons

stores, departed Colombo 12/1/42 and joined at sea

Hosang

British, 5.698 tons

Joined January 20, carrying stores.

Yuen Sang

British, 3.229 tons

Joined January 20, carrying stores

Rochussen

Dutch, 2.363 tons

Joined January 22, detached Doerian Strait

Hermelin

Norwegian, 1.683 tons

Joined January 22

Collingswood

American, 5.101 tons

Joined January 22

Escorts

CA

HMS Exeter

From January 18 to Singapore

CL

HMS Caledon

Between January 8 and 13

CL

HMS Enterprise

From January 13 to Singapore

CL

HMS Glasgow

Between January 13 and 18

CL

HMS Danae

From January 18 to Singapore

CL

De Ruyter

Between January 22 until Doerian Strait

CL

Tromp

Between January 22 until Doerian Strait

DD

HMS Electra

Between January 20 and 22

DD

Stronghold

Between January 20 and 22

PB

HMIS Sutlej

From January 14 to Singapore

PB

HMAS Yarra

From January 20 to Singapore

MS 1

This convoy departed Melbourne on January 10, but it is currently unknown which units were transported to Singapore aboard the ships of this convoy. The ships marked with an * arrived in Singapore on February 1st.

Merchants

City of Manchester *

British, 8.917 tons

Derrymore *

British, 4.799 tons

Java

Dutch, 9.250 tons

Enggano

Dutch, 5.412 tons

Gorgon *

British, 3.533 tons

Pan Europe *

Norwegian, 9.468 tons

Peisander

British, 6.225 tons

Phrontis *

Dutch, 6.181 tons

Tjikandi

Dutch, 7.970 tons

Tjikarang

Dutch, 9.505 tons

War Sirdar *

British, 5.647 tons

Escorts

AMC

HMAS Kanimbla

Between January 10 and 28

CL

HMAS Hobart

Between January 26 and 31

DD

HMS Stronghold

Between January 28 and 31

DD

HMS Tenedos

Between January 28 and 31

MS 2 and MS 2A

This convoy originally consisted of the large liner Aquitania, which transported 3500 Australian troops ( 2/4th MG batallion, reinforcements for the 8th division ) to Singapore. However, by this time, the Japanese had complete control of the air over Singapore and the approaches to this port, and the naval authorities therefore found it to be wiser to transfer the troops aboard to smaller vessels. The Aquitania with her ocean escort, HMAS Canberra arrived in Ratai Bay on Sumatra on January 20. The troops were transferred to smaller KPM-steamers and a British ship, and the convoy departed Ratai Bay on January 21, now as MS 2A. The ships arrived unscathed in Singapore on January 24.

Until Ratai Bay

Merchants

Aquitania

British, 45.647 tons

3500 troops

Escorts

CA

HMAS Canberra

Ocean escort

CL

Java ( RNN )

From January 18

DD

Evertsen ( RNN )

From January 18

DD

Van Nes ( RNN )

From January 18

Transfer in Ratai Bay to smaller ships

Cover force

CA

HMAS Canberra

CL

HMS Dragon

DD

HMAS Vampire

DD

HMS Express

DD

USS Stewart

DD

USS Barker

DD

Van Nes ( RNN )

PB

USS Isabel

PB

Soemba ( RNN )

Ratai Bay to Singapore

Merchants

Both

Dutch, 2.660 tons

Reael

Dutch, 2.561 tons

Reynst

Dutch, 2.462 tons

Van der Lijn

Dutch, 2.464 tons

Van Swoll

Dutch, 2.156 tons

Sloet van de Beele

Dutch, 2.977 tons

Taishan

British, 3.174 tons

Escorts

CA

HMAS Canberra

Detached north of Banka

CL

Java ( RNN )*

From 21 to 24 January

DD

HMAS Vampire*

From 21 to 24 January

DD

HMS Thanet*

From 21 to 24 January

DD

Evertsen ( RNN )

Detached north of Banka

DD

Van Nes

Detached north of Banka

PB

HMIS Jumna*

From 21 to 24 January

* These ships arrived with the convoy in Singapore

BM 11

BM-11 carried 5 light AA-batteries, 1 light tanksquadron and the 18th Division ( except the 53rd Brigade Group ), a total of 17.000 troops to Singapore. It had departed Bombay on January 19 1942 and arrived in Singapore on January 29 1942.

Merchants

Empire Star

British, 11.093 tons

Motor transport

Duchess of Bedford

British, 20.123 tons

1955 troops

Empress of Japan

British, 26.032 tons

1981 troops

USS Wakefield

American, 22.559 tons

4479 troops

USS West Point

American, 23.179 tons

3250 troops

Escorts

CA

HMS Exeter

From January 26 to Singapore

CL

HMS Dragon

Between January 26 and 28

CL

HMS Durban

Between January 26 and 28

CL

HMS Glasgow

Between January 22 and 26

CL

HMS Caledon

Between January 19 and 22

DD

HMS Thanet

??, arrived Singapore January 24

DD

HMS Tenedos

From January 24

DD

HMS Express

From January 24

DD

HMS Electra

From January 24

DD

HMS Encounter

From January 26

BM 12

BM-12 carried drafts for the 9th and 11th Divisions ( 3800 men ) and stores for the 18th Division to Singapore. The convoy departed Bombay on January 23 and arrived in Singapore on the 5th of the following month. It was also the first to lose a ship: the trooptransport Empress of Asia was hit by bombs from divebombers and had to be abandoned. Most troops aboard were picked up by escorting vessels ( HMAS Yarra especially distinguished herself ), but most of the equipment was unfortunately lost.

Merchants

Empress of Asia

British, 16.909 tons

2235 troops and stores

Félix Roussèl

French, 17.084 tons

157 troops and stores

Plancius

Dutch, 5.955 tons

987 troops and stores

Devonshire

British, 11.275 tons

1673 troops and stores

City of Canterbury

British, 8.331 tons

1053 troops

Escorts

CA

HMS Exeter

Joined February 2, detached north of Banka

CL

HMS Danae

Joined January 31, detached north of Banka

CL

HMS Emerald

Between January 27 and 31

CL

Java ( RNN )

Between January 31 and February 4, detached because of fuel shortage.

DD

HMS Encounter

Joined ??, detached north of Banka

DD

HMAS Vampire

Joined February 2

PB

HMAS Yarra

Joined February 1

PB

HMIS Sutlej

Joined February 1

PB

HMS Falmouth

Between January 26 and 27

AM

HMAS Bendigo

Joined north of Banka Strait

AM

HMAS Woolongong

Joined north of Banka Strait

DM 2 ( Ex - WS 14 B )

DM-2 ( which departed Durban on January 13 ) was originally WS 14B, but the name was changed off Mombasa on January 19. It made rendez-vous with BM-12, after which the convoys merged at 01.05 N, 91.28 E. The ships of this convoy were rerouted to Batavia with one exception, the City of Canterbury joined BM-12 and arrived in Singapore. Aboard the ships were the Wing Headquarters and groundstaff for 3 fightersquadrons, the 77th heavy and 21st light AA regiments with their equipment, vehicles and stores for the 48th Light AA-regiment. The rerouted ships arrived in Batavia on February 3.

Merchants

Warwick Castle

British, 20.119 tons

N/A

Empress of Australia

British, 21.860 tons

N/A

City of Pretoria

British, 8.049 tons

Motor transport

Triolus

British, 7.422 tons

N/A

Malancha

British, 8.124 tons

Motor transport

City of Canterbury

British, 8.331 tons

1053 troops

Dunera

British, 11.197 tons

1884 troops

Escorts*

BB

HMS Royal Sovereign

Until January 26 (1100 hours)

AMC

HMS Ranchi

Joined January 26 (1100 hours), detached January 28 (1300 hours)

CA

HMS Exeter

From February 2

CL

HMS Emerald

Between January 28 and 31

CL

Java ( RNN )

Between January 31 and February 4, detached because of fuel shortage.

CL

HMS Danae

Joined January 31

DD

HMAS Vampire

Joined February 2

DD

HMS Jupiter

Joined February 2

PB

HMAS Yarra

Joined February 1

PB

HMIS Sutlej

Joined February 1

BM-13

The last of the Singapore convoys. Departed Bombay on February 13, but was recalled on February 17. I don't list her here as it never came close to reaching her destination. In addition, the convoys JS 1, JS 2 and MS 3 were apparently also originally bound for Singapore but also never reached their destination.